Modeling a Lock of Hair?

[jrossjr79]

Is there any tutorials on modeling hair that does not use a piece of mesh to grow off of? I need to be able to model a lock of hair, looking as realistic as possible. Here is a reference of what I am wanting to achieve.

[JA12]

If that means still having a particle hair but not from a mesh, probably not, but the emitter doesn’t have to render

This one uses curve guide for particle hair

As non-particle hair, might have some luck with curves and curve addons